The Island seems to have a lower concentration of cyclists than bike-happy Brooklyn, while its car density is comparable to that of towns in Jersey, though the city keeps pushing mass transit at them. The Advance points out to critics who would like to see the bike-lane money diverted to improve roads that most of it comes from federal funds specified for bike lanes. Nonetheless councilmember James Oddo, who has been critical of the lanes in the past, says, “I’m not quite sure what the obsession is with bike lanes in this administration. I just wish they were obsessed with smooth streets.”

The sympathies of Advance commenters are predictable. “I wish gloomberg would ride a bike in the city,” says one. “it would be a real shame if he got crushed by a truck and turned into a pavement pattie though, but I guess that would take care of the term limits thing.” “SI motorists don’t obey traffic signs and signals let alone lines in the street,” says another. Queens Crap’s attitude isn’t in doubt either: their coverage is headlined, “Stupid Staten Island bike lanes criticized.”